Perhaps We Should Have Seen the Albert Pujols Slide Coming? He's Been in Decline For Three Years

Perhaps We Should Have Seen the Albert Pujols Slide Coming? He's Been in Decline For Three Years

The surprisingly slow start of Albert Pujols has been one of the bigger baseball stories so far this season, but perhaps it shouldn’t be so shocking. Bernie Miklasz of the Post-Dispatch recently took a look at some numbers dating back to 2009, and it’s possible we’re just seeing the continued decline of an aging hitter. Yes, as of today, Pujols still remains homer-free. On the bright side, there are only nine years remaining on his current deal.

For starters, over the last three seasons, his on-base percentage has seen a drop — .443, .414, .366 — along with decreasing slugging percentages of .658, .596, and .541. His walk rate has also seen a dip, a rather large one, dropping nearly in half since 2009 when it was at 16.4%. It has since fallen to 14.7% in 2010, and 9.4% last year. The list goes on, his chase rate has increased significantly, and he’s uncharacteristically pulling nearly everything. He’s a confused mess.

So while his output has been stunningly awful thus far — 0 home runs, 5 RBI, .547 OPS — what we’re seeing might just be more of the same downward trend that’s been taking place over the last handful of years. Sure, his numbers likely won’t remain so pedestrian, but don’t be surprised to see dips across the board when compared to his 2011 season. Glass half-empty? He went 0-for-4 last night. Glass half-full? He had an RBI!

Having said that, all of this will become moot when Pujols goes on a 28-game hitting streak that includes 16 home runs, countless RBIs, and his OPS jumps up 350 points. For now, we point and keep on pointing until things change.

Read about halfway down. It is very odd for this guy to mention other blogs. He usually just beats up on local sports radio.

ms621

Said it from the start, St. Louis is lucky they didn’t sign him. They got two WS titles out of the guy and avoided paying him over $200 million dollars. I really wish he was still on their payroll.

Me too.

/Astros move to his division next year

http://twitter.com/#!/jck49erfan jck49erfan

The best Pujols hate can be located here.

/best fans my ass

That’s like saying the Cowboys are America’s Team. Fuck that and fuck them.

http://twitter.com/#!/jck49erfan jck49erfan

Chris Getz with a triple to left! Suck it, Detroit!

/refuses to acknowledge last night

http://twitter.com/SouvenirCity SouvenirCity

The guy took the money and ran. Why are they in the wrong for disliking him?

So you would say those things about Lance Berkman?

http://twitter.com/#!/Wheels1123 I'm a Horse

On the bright side, there are only nine years remaining on his current deal.

/bangs head on desk

Having said that, all of this will become moot when Pujols goes on a 28-game hitting streak that includes 16 home runs, countless RBIs, and his OPS jumps up 350 points. For now, we point and keep on pointing until things change.

I don’t know man. It’s starting to feel like Vernon Wells redux.

https://twitter.com/#!/ParrishWalton HuskerDawg

Fans are so cute. Albert got the team two titles and was outstanding. He then was offered 25ish million a year and took it. I bet the punk rocking the jersey would have turned down a similar percentage raise to stay with their company.